I have been obsessed with Michelle Hodkin‘s debut series ever since I first read an early copy of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER in June of 2011 and stayed up way too late because I couldn’t stop reading and woke up too early after a late night because I needed to know what would happen. It instantly became my most often recommended book to all of my friends and students.

Instead of just sharing my thoughts about the final book, I’ve put my thoughts from all three books in the same place in the hope that if you haven’t yet listened to my recommendation to read. this. book. now., this will inspire you to now that you can read through the whole trilogy at once (and not have to wait over three years like I did!).

Mara Dyer wants to believe there’s more to the lies she’s been told.

There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.

She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.

She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.

Retribution has arrived. 

Oh how I love this series! The ending was worth the wait for Michelle to get it just right, and she did. There were expletives said, sections reread, mind blown, paragraphs & lines savored, questions answered, connections to the previous books, smirks on my face, cheers in my head, and fulfillment felt as I read through this final chapter in the Mara Dyer saga.

Mara Dyer believes life can’t get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.It can. 
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is.
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love. She’s wrong.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER is one of the most interesting books that I have read in awhile. It blew my mind, kept me on my toes, crawled under my skin, tugged at my heart, and won’t get out of my head. It is a multi-layered story: part psychological thriller, part epic teen romance, part high school story, part mystery, part family dynamics, and part suspense. Oh, and I can’t forget the slight paranormal tendencies (in the mental sense not creatures) underlying the events of this book. It is a page-turning, hard to put down, want to know what will happen and how the main character will figure it all out kind of book. It starts with a note from Mara setting up the premise that she’s going to be telling you her story (under a pseudonym) of why her life is not normal. It’s definitely a book you have to read with an open mind so you can just go with it. At times I thought, “oh, this is like ___” only to find out I was wrong, but I could definitely see the influences of other YA books, but done with unique twists. There are lots of “what is going on?!” and “did that just happen?!” moments, but that’s what made it so much more readable.


Michelle Hodkin (a debut author!) has an engaging writing style that is a nice balance of descriptive, exciting, humorous, suspenseful, sarcastic, and intelligent. It just draws you in without even realizing it and you find yourself negotiating “just one more chapter before I go to sleep” fifteen times in a row until you can’t keep your eyes open anymore. Parts of this book (especially the dialogue) were so smile to myself entertaining I found myself rereading them just to soak them in more and deeply process the subtle references and entertaining quality.


And the main character Michelle has written in Mara? Not the most reliable, or most sane, but she’s got an awesome sass to her that I love, and underneath her insecurity and unsureness has a strength and integrity that drew me to her even more. Mara doesn’t remember what happened the night the building collapsed and her friends were killed. One of the best parts of this book is the way that Mara’s memories of that night start to come back to her. We get flashbacks through her dreams as she gets them – leaving us feeling as unsure as Mara does about what’s going on – but eventually we finally get the whole story of that night and the story comes together really well. It’s written in the way that makes you feel like the character is feeling at that point in the book – you’ll be scared, hopeful, worried, confused, happy, and freaked out when Mara is feeling that way as you go through the story with her.


Should we talk boys now? How about my newest (and quite possibly best ever) literary crush – Noah Shaw. Really, after reading it, I sigh just hearing his name. I love, love, love Noah’s character. He’s got a great way of talking (and lots of hidden secrets to come) and interacting and being that is just captivating. The parts I found myself rereading the most were the interactions between Mara and Noah. Now, I should warn you, at first I was a little skeptical because he seemed like the stereotypical bad boy, insta-crush, jerk to girls, love interest character, but there’s much, much more than meets the eye (or rumor mill as the case may be) with Noah Shaw. Don’t let his early interactions fool you – there is an epic sort of romance that develops between Mara and Noah that will have you swooning by the end.


Secondary characters deserve a mention too – maybe because I have two brothers myself and am the middle/only girl, I really enjoyed Mara’s relationship with her brothers – especially her older brother Daniel. He’s great. He watches out for her, covers for her, protects her, and pushes her to get out there. I want a big brother like him. We also see Mara at her new school after they move out of state and meet her new friend Jamie. He is awesomely sarcastic and witty and good comedic relief. He also serves as commentary to set the stage for what’s going on in the new school’s dynamics. I enjoyed reading both Daniel’s and Jamie’s characters; I would have liked a little more of Jamie though.


This book all leads up to an ending that is unexpected and left me wondering What?! How did that happen?! It made me want to go back and reread the whole book with that new perspective and see if it changed my thoughts on earlier parts of the story. It ends at a point that added a final cliffhanger of a twist and left me hoping that there would be more – and there will be a sequel (thank goodness because I need answers!) You may feel a little off balance at the end of this one, but I truly think that’s part of the reason that it is so good. I want my stories to surprise me once in awhile and this one was definitely surprising. Be on the lookout for THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER in September!

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

I’m not totally sure how to express my feelings about this book because there are so many! My immediate thoughts at the end of it included some unprintable words because I was so blown away. I obsessively loved THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER when I got an early read of it last year, and was eagerly anticipating reading the sequel, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER, and was extremely lucky to be able to get an early copy loaned to me, and it completely lived up to the anticipation I had going into it. This was a strong second book that definitely matched up to my love of the first book.


I adore Michelle Hodkin, but I finished this book feeling like she’s a diabolical genius of a writer. It surprises me that she wasn’t a writer before this, and I hope she continues to be one for a long time. Maybe that’s part of the reason that I enjoy her writing so much, it came from a spark of an idea for a story, and because her background is diverse, there’s a spark to the writing that just really clicks for me. The way the writing is paced, the intelligence to it, the unreliable narrator, the mood, the witty banter, the uncomfortable suspense of not knowing what’s going to happen, the love and support of family, the heart at the center of this chaotic psychological thriller, and, yes, the romance, too…it all grabs me and doesn’t let me go. I read 544 pages in two days (and those were teaching/working days!) because I just couldn’t stop reading. It’s a long book that doesn’t feel long. It’s a sequel that keeps the story moving, but is interesting in its own right. So much was revealed in this book about what’s really going on with Mara and Noah and everything that happened. I appreciated that we were given so much information and many questions were answered, but some still are not and more were created that make me anxious to see where this is all headed.


Interestingly, I didn’t think this book had as much of the creepy feeling as the first one, but it definitely had suspenseful and psychological tension to it. Favorite characters were back, and new intriguing ones were introduced. Family support and love is still central to the relationships that hold Mara together. And I can’t forget the romantic storyline between Mara and Noah Shaw, which because of their unique abilities, becomes even more difficult for them to manage. At its heart, there are questions of truth, reality, trust, faith…all the things that make for a conflicted character who is just trying to hold it all together against odds that seem stacked against her.


As much as I loved this book, there was one thing bugged me. There was a clue fairly early on to a twist that seemed so obvious to me, and Mara is very intelligent, and so it seemed like she should have realized it, but I guess she is dealing with quite a bit of psychosis stuff at this point, so I should cut her some slack for not catching it. I’m still thrilled there is going to be a third book, THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, coming in 2013, especially after the twists and reveals of the ending of this book! Not sure how I’ll be able to wait so long!

Title: THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Number of Pages: 544
Source of Book: ARC borrowed from teacher friend Lea

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In
this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves
and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

I’m not totally sure how to express my feelings about this book because there are so many! My immediate thoughts at the end of it included some unprintable words because I was so blown away. I obsessively loved THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER when I got an early read of it last year, and was eagerly anticipating reading the sequel, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER, and was extremely lucky to be able to get an early copy loaned to me, and it completely lived up to the anticipation I had going into it. This was a strong second book that definitely matched up to my love of the first book.

I adore Michelle Hodkin, but I finished this book feeling like she’s a diabolical genius of a writer. It surprises me that she wasn’t a writer before this, and I hope she continues to be one for a long time. Maybe that’s part of the reason that I enjoy her writing so much, it came from a spark of an idea for a story, and because her background is diverse, there’s a spark to the writing that just really clicks for me. The way the writing is paced, the intelligence to it, the unreliable narrator, the mood, the witty banter, the uncomfortable suspense of not knowing what’s going to happen, the love and support of family, the heart at the center of this chaotic psychological thriller, and, yes, the romance, too…it all grabs me and doesn’t let me go. I read 544 pages in two days (and those were teaching/working days!) because I just couldn’t stop reading. It’s a long book that doesn’t feel long. It’s a sequel that keeps the story moving, but is interesting in its own right. So much was revealed in this book about what’s really going on with Mara and Noah and everything that happened. I appreciated that we were given so much information and many questions were answered, but some still are not and more were created that make me anxious to see where this is all headed.

Interestingly, I didn’t think this book had as much of the creepy feeling as the first one, but it definitely had suspenseful and psychological tension to it. Favorite characters were back, and new intriguing ones were introduced. Family support and love is still central to the relationships that hold Mara together. And I can’t forget the romantic storyline between Mara and Noah Shaw, which because of their unique abilities, becomes even more difficult for them to manage. At its heart, there are questions of truth, reality, trust, faith…all the things that make for a conflicted character who is just trying to hold it all together against odds that seem stacked against her.

As much as I loved this book, there was one thing bugged me. There was a clue fairly early on to a twist that seemed so obvious to me, and Mara is very intelligent, and so it seemed like she should have realized it, but I guess she is dealing with quite a bit of psychosis stuff at this point, so I should cut her some slack for not catching it. I’m still thrilled there is going to be a third book, THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, coming in 2013, especially after the twists and reveals of the ending of this book! Not sure how I’ll be able to wait so long!

For a Mara lover like myself, today held an exciting surprise…the cover reveal of the sequel, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER. Love these gorgeous covers! Now, this is exciting for many reasons, but most of which is that it means we’re getting closer to actually being able to read the book! Well, as close as October 23rd (six months from now!) can seem anyway.

But in addition, we’re getting some info! I was lucky enough to meet Michelle a couple of times when she was in Chicago for events, and she is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and also very good at keeping secrets. Every time I would ask (in as many subtly different ways as I could) about what comes next, her response was, “All I can say is that there will be a Mara 2.” And that’s it! So for me, any information is good information to keep the anticipation and excitement going to Mara Dyer.

And here’s a clue what we’ll get with The Evolution of Mara Dyer:

Two days after Mara
walks into a police station in Miami at the close of The Unbecoming of
Mara Dyer, she is committed for psychiatric treatment for what her
parents believe is a mental breakdown. But what seems like a
hallucination to everyone else is a chilling reality for Mara. Someone
from her past has discovered her strange, disturbing secret and that
someone wants her to pay. But she’s about to discover that the price is
more than she can bear.

Dark and thrilling, suspenseful and
passionate, The Evolution of Mara Dyer will have readers breathlessly
turning pages to find out what will become of Mara Dyer next.

 I, for one, can’t wait to get my hands on THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER!

And today, right here, you get to meet Michelle Hodkin, gracious and fabulous author of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, who answered a fast five questions about Mara and her writing. A little something to tide you over until you can read Mara’s story tomorrow.


What prompted you to write this story?
The short answer is that I was inspired by true events. The long answer is going to be posted on www.maradyer.com. Until then, all I can say is:  

Did anyone or anything in your own life inspire any of your characters: Mara, Noah, Daniel, Jamie?
But bits of myself definitely make it into each of the characters. I’d
have to say, though, that I’m probably the most like Jamie.
Foul-mouthed, brutally honest, and pretty obnoxious. But a super loyal
friend. 

How long did it take for Mara to go from idea to book? How many revisions did you go through?
Ten months from the first words until the day I submitted it in late
March. Probably two significant rewrites and three additional
significant revisions before my editor even got her (capable and
brilliant) hands on it. 

What do you hope readers take away from this book?
Honestly? I just wanted people to have fun reading it. But I wouldn’t be
sad if it made even one person re-think the (silly) idea that pit bulls
should be banned from towns, cities, states, and even countries. That
will seem kind of random if you haven’t read the book  

What’s next for you as an author?
The sequel to THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, which comes out in Fall 2012!

Thank you so much, Michelle!!! 

Don’t forget to check out this week’s other Mara Mondays offerings and comment away to be entered in Lori’s contest at Pure Imagination. And get make sure you get to the store to get your hands on Mara tomorrow!
Vy’s Blog 
Pure Imagination

 

And remember to check out this week’s other Mara Mondays offerings and comment away to be entered in Lori’s contest at Pure Imagination.
The Secret Life of a Avid Reader – Miami post
Greads – Quote graphics post

It’s been three months since I first posted my
review/thoughts on THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, so I wanted to share it
again for those of you who may have missed it, and to remind you of all
of the reasons that you want to get your hands on this book when it
releases next week!
  *This review originally posted in June. 

OK…I
know this is a really early review, but I needed to process my thoughts
about this book – and that’s why I have a book blog – to share my
thoughts!

10. You’ve already heard a lot about it, so you’re curious to see what all the buzz is about, but want the chance to go into it with an open mind and have your own experience with it before hearing too many more opinions.

9. Why would you want to wait any longer to get your hands on a copy? I’ve only been talking about my slight obsession with this one since June!

8. You want to dedicate the weekend of October 1st to reading this book (because you won’t be able to put it down once you start).

7. You appreciate complex characters in your books.

6. You’re willing to suspend your disbelief and feed a little dissonance in your mind while you read for a quality reading experience of a mystery/psychological thriller – and you don’t mind a little magical-paranormal and romance thrown in with it.

5. You’re a fan of multi-genre books that keep you on your toes. This one will alternately make you want to rant, rave, yell at, question, shake, and hug the main characters throughout the book.

4. You really want to finally meet Noah Shaw (trust me on this one)!

3. You want to find out who Mara Dyer is, and can get behind an unreliable narrator. Oh, and you appreciate some snark with your main characters.

2. You love reading books that surprise you, make you think, make you smile, make you afraid, make you feel, make you crave more, right?

1. You definitely want to make sure you have this one right away so the shocker of an ending doesn’t get spoiled for you!

and a bonus 
1/2. Michelle Hodkin is hosting a pre-order contest where you can win an annotated ARC, t-shirts, signed bookmarks, cover art posters, or a Nook! See all the details on her blog. That is definitely worth a pre-order!